The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group works to help people whose rights have been violated and investigates cases involving such abuse, as well as assessing the overall human rights situation in Ukraine. The Group also seeks to develop awareness of human rights issues through public events and its various publications

Yevhen Sverstiuk Awarded Light of Justice Prize

Former dissident and political prisoner, human rights campaigner, and publicist, Yevhen Sverstiuk, has become the first laureate of the "Light of Justice" Award for his moral, spiritual, and ethical leadership. The presentation of the award in the Kyiv City Teachers House was attended by Yevhen Sverstiuk’s friends, diplomats, and representatives of public organizations, educational institutions, youth organizations, and mass media.

The prize “Light of Justice” was founded by a Canadian of Ukrainian descent, Anastasia Shkilnyk, in honor of her father, a famous lawyer, public and political figure of the time of the struggle for independence of 1917-1820. Dr. Mykhailo Shkilnyk (1891–1972), “This prize is to honor special people for their ability to light the light of justice in the dark crevices of the human soul and to point the way to a more human society. My father never sought recognition for his dedicated service in the name of justice. His life is a vivid example of moral leadership. That is exactly why I decided to establish the prize Light of Justice,” noted Anastasia Shkilnyk.

Yevhen Sverstiuk is an outstanding Ukrainian publicist and literary critic, an active participant of the national-democratic movement, one of its spiritual and intellectual leaders. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison for his participation in the dissident movement. He is a laureate of the Taras Shevchenko National Prize, an honorary president of the Ukrainian PEN Center, doctor of philosophy. His most famous books are “Scaffolded Cathedral” (1970), “Ukraine’s Prodigal Sons” (1993), “Shevchenko and Time” (1996), and “Holiday of Hopes” (1999). He is the author of numerous essays and articles in literary criticism, psychology and religious studies, poems and translations from German, English and Russian.